Fritz Olsen

Background:

Fritz Olsen, nationally recognized America artist, began his career as a Chicago sculptor on industrial Goose Island in 1985, creating original sculptures for public and private placement. Throughout the past twenty-two years, his exceptional works in stone and bronze have provided a direct link to the midwest landscape which has influenced and inspired him from his childhood years in Illinois up to the present day.

Original sculptures by Fritz Olsen may be found in two permanent museum collections to date.  The Krasl Museum of Saint Joseph, Michigan added BOUQUET created of Georgian pink marble to its collection in 1999, and GARDEN WINDOW II became a permanent addition to the Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago in 2006.

Public commissions include site specific pieces created for the Westin Resorts, Rancho Mirage California; Lakeland Hospital, Benton Harbor, Michigan; Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan; Victoria Royal, LTD, New York, New York; and the Frankfort Illinois Public Library.

Signature works such as SUNFLOWER and RIBBON BOUQUET were recently added to the City Center in Dowagiac, Michigan and Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. In addition, Fritz Olsen was selected by the Chicago Neurosurgical Center to create the DECADE OF THE BRAIN award.

Today, Harbor County is home to Fritz and his wife Martha, an accomplished vocalist.  In a graciously restored 1930’s azalea nursery, located in picturesque Sawyer, Michigan, the artist now maintains his studio, lovely sculpture gardens, and an exceptional fine art gallery.  FRITZ OLSEN SCULPTURES FINE ART GALLERY features the finest collection of original artwork created by Fritz Olsen and prominent guest artists in breathtaking setting.

Stephen Hokanson

Background:
Stephen Hokanson works in a variety of sculptural media with steel bronze and wood being his favorites.  He is influenced mainly by Industry and Modernisim.  Bridges and cranes become distilled into graceful balancing or kinetic forms.  Alexander Calder, David Smith and Constantin Milonadis were early influences on Hokanson's work, Hokanson has worked and exhibited in Voru, Estonia, Copenhagen, Denmark as well as Mexico City, Mexico.  He has worked with galleries and Sculpture Parks across the United States,  His work is represented in public and private collections throughout the United States and Overseas as well.  In 2000, Hokanson was selected as a recipient of the Illinois Arts Councils' statewide Fellowship award.

Hokanson continues to work in his studios in Michigan.

Bruce Niemi

Background:
The sculptures Bruce creates are characterized by an uplifting positive nature, the power, and beauty of nature and the energy and balance of dance are his inspiration. Graceful stainless steel, and bronze sculptures dancing in place, reaching to the heavens, creating the illusion of movement, and transforming the abstract into the instantly understood are characteristics of his work. “My purpose is to stimulate and exercise the mind of you, the viewer, as well as creating a sculpture that compliments the environment that it shares”. Aesthetics, balance, energy, harmony, meticulous craftsmanship, structural strength, durable materials, and public safety are all built into the piece.

Terry Hewlett

Background:

Being raised on a farm in central Michigan, Terry Hewlett has been inspired by his heritage to use farm equipment colors in many of his pieces. He uses steel as his primary medium and most of his works are for outdoor installations. Terry considers the environment a of a piece, "not making pieces up in advance".

Eve's Awareness is a depiction of knowledge emerging from innocence.

Robert Cordisco

Background:
Robert Cordisco is an accomplished, self-taught, contemporary sculptor with an extensive background in the construction field. All of his work is personally conceived, designed, fabricated and finished. He has completed and installed numerous works for private and public commissions. Robert has an inherent eye for balance and structure. His finished pieces dance their own dance, moving and flowing within their own rhythm.
Utilizing aluminum, steel, or stainless steel and some touches of bronze. Each piece begins with a working drawing that is transferred to the metal. The material is laid out and cut either by a saw or a plasma torch. The individual pieces of the puzzle are then assembled by arc welding. Next the piece is ground and sanded to a fine finish with power and hand tools. Finally the piece is sprayed with an automotive clear coat for a natural finish, automotive acrylic enamels for color, or a brushed patina. The materials and finishes employed have proven their longevity over the years, requiring little to no maintenance in either an interior or exterior setting.

Rick Ott

Background:
Info coming soon

Eric Shaw

Background:
Eric Shaw had been interested in photography since high school, becoming a skilled photographer, and later showing interest in sculpture. He went on to attend the University of Iowa for two years before deciding to set up shop at his family's business and start sculpting on his own. Eric showed his sculptures at galleries including the Weiderspan Gallery in Cedar Rapids, the Percival Gallery in Des Moines and the Neville-Sargent Gallery in Chicago. Today, Eric's work is being placed across the United States by efforts of his parents in order to keep is legacy alive. This "Tree Form" sculpture embodies a theme which Eric explored in several other sculptures by combining different forms.